When it comes to fun and learning, the sky is the limit in Mr. Aidan O’Loughlin’s Tech 8 class. His students are in the middle of their space transportation mini-unit, which is highlighted by a bottle rocket project meant to test their knowledge and design skills.
“I think this is a fun project to start the year out with,” says Mr. O’Loughlin. “It gets the students doing something hands-on that we can revisit when we begin to discuss different concepts for energy conversion.”
Students were first tasked with identifying the forces that would propel their bottle rocket, and how to build their rocket to slow its descent. Each student then sketched two different possible designs for their rocket. Once they decided on their preferred design, they got to work.
“We talked about what the goal of our project was, what some of the constraints would be,” says Mr. O’Loughlin. “Once they understood how the rocket would work, I think they felt more confident with their designs.”
Launch day came bright and early on Sept. 19, with perfect weather for some aerial antics. Each student launched their rocket, and was timed for how long it remained airborne. Despite some fierce competition, Kevin Hickok was named the winner after his bottle rocket stayed in the air for 4.32 seconds.
Transportation is only the first of seven different areas of technology Mr. O’Loughlin’s classes will explore in the 2026-2027 school year, with each unit promising to test student’s creative and critical thinking skills.